FroshMemo Archived Issue 20 Spring 21

With quarantine rendering us all homebodies, we’ve had to make drastic changes to the area in which we perceive as work and that which we perceive as our personal space, nowadays the two often blending together.  With this being said, it is essential to facilitate a personal/work space at home that is ideal for our mentals as well as will benefit us throughout the course of this semester, here are some personal tips on how to do so!  

Keep Personal/Work Space Cleanly:

Before even investing in or finding objects/instruments that will improve the area that we are actively confined to, it is absolutely essential to make sure this area is both clean and organized.  Mentally, consistently investing time in ensuring our workspace is clean and properly arranged to our liking allows the stress that would accumulate with a messy workspace to diminish entirely or cease to exist, allowing us to effectively sort through necessary items/material in the space and overall keeps us on top of our game!  Maintaining the integrity of this space by setting aside time to actively clean and adjust things to your liking is also a great way of building personal discipline all while providing oneself with a sense of accomplishment.  

Invest in Some Plants:

A great way to liven up the area in which we commonly reside is through the addition of some plants or flowers!  No matter the size, shape, or type, the introduction of plants to your personal space is a great way to give life to the surrounding environment.  Additionally, plants are often low-maintenance and provide a perfect opportunity to have something in your space you can actively monitor and tend to, providing a quick break from the stress of our everyday studies.  Plants are often said to aid in cleaning the air in which they surround, which is said to help facilitate better sleeping patterns for owners!  

Something to Motivate!:

Personally, one aspect of my personal space that I cherish over almost any other is that of a daily “mood-board” I placed in my room.  This space can be filled with motivational quotes, daily goals, responsibilities, upcoming events to remember or key dates, and pretty much just about anything else.  The key of implementing this into your space is to give you something to actively look at to provide inspiration, or simply a little reminder that you can do it, whatever it may be!  Upon adding this to my space, I have found that I am more likely to remember key times and due dates, I’m likely to feel more inspired by the content of quotes and goals that I place on the board, and overall I feel more organized and prepared for the day!

Honorable Mentions: 

Lights for your space (LEDs, etc)

A comfortable chair

Posters/Place for pics of your favorite memories!

Calendars

Air-filtration devices

Candles

Desk lamp/light

Proper food tray 

As the semester goes underway, you may be feeling overwhelmed as classwork piles up, let's make sure you are not hungry as you give way to stress!!

A classic snack to munch on would be rice cakes. You can find them at any grocery store, they are not that expensive. My favorite thing to do is to spread peanut butter on them! It makes it better while I try desperately not to fall behind on my classwork.

Another favorite would be yogurt, especially the Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt. Eating it right after taking it out of the fridge gives my overheated brain from cramming everything, a break.

Cereal is also a destresser. Eating a soggy bowl of Fruity Pebbles makes me reminisce of elementary school days when the hardest lesson was remembering the 9s time's table and not integrals and antiderivatives.

Anything covered in chocolate is fair game. Almonds, pretzels, M&Ms. I'm not going to lie and say dark chocolate is better, anything to provide you joy from classwork will work.

That's all I got for my favorite snacks! Wish me luck on the rest of the semester!

Alli, Alli, Alli,

I must be Time (magazine) ‘cause I have ISSUES. Since my whole life is now online, everything melds together. How do I manage my time?

Your Fellow Gator,

Tye Red

Tye, Tye, Tye,

My, oh, my! Time is definitely of the essence, so here’s a brief list of methods that you can use to manage your time:

• Utilize a physical*/digital planner
• Map out dates instead of using it as a paperweight
• Complete tasks immediately
• “Later” is NOW
• Use the Pomodoro Technique
  • A little structure never hurt anyone
• Say “NO”
• Sometimes, you have to close old doors, so you can open new ones

See ya later, Gator!

XOXO,

Alli

P.S. Do YOU have questions without answers? Ask Alli by filling out this form!